As Car Week rolls into town, here are steps to avoid traffic jams.

Car Week officially kicks off on Friday, Aug. 8 and events run until Sunday, Aug. 17. For some people, that is great news with events to attend and cool cars to look for. For others, it's just an annual week-long traffic jam. 

For the latter, there are some Car Week traffic avoidance strategies. The County of Monterey produces an interactive map at mccarweek.com that shows live traffic information and road closures, as well as day-by-day events. (Thursday, Aug. 14 is the peak with 16 events.) 

There are at least 35 official events at various locations throughout the 10 days of automotive-centric shows, gatherings and races. There are also things that may feel like events, like unique cars that may draw attention—"it becomes a spectacle," Rob O'Keefe, president and CEO of tourism bureau See Monterey, said during a County of Monterey news briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

O'Keefe acknowledged the burden that Car Week places on residents. "It normally takes me six minutes to get to Safeway; during Car Week it takes me 15 whole minutes," he said. 

But See Monterey is also quick to point out the economic boost associated with an anticipated 100,000 visitors, many of whom stay overnight; 5 percent of hotel rooms nights for the entire year take place during the 10 days of Car Week, for example. See Monterey reports $130 million in visitor spending. 

But of course, that does come with a cost, largely in the form of traffic and fumes, with many classic cars that are not subject to modern-day smog requirements. 

Various law enforcement agencies have plans to increase their presence and crack down on speeding, drunk driving and more. 

"For the public, don't hesitate to call 911. If you see a reckless driver, or a possible DUI driver, please call it in," Saul Perez of California Highway Patrol said in the county news briefing on Wednesday. 

His added message for locals: "I understand this sometimes brings chaos and congestion to the area. We're asking for patience." 

For residents looking to avoid Car Week's traffic impacts, consult the County's map. You can also receive safety alerts from County officials by texting CARWEEK to 65513. (To look for special events that may impact traffic throughout the entire year, visit this interactive County map.)